Michigan left

Published: Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013 5:30 a.m. CST

To the Editor:

I read of the proposed continuous flow design for the Algonquin-Randall Road intersection in Monday’s Northwest Herald. There is a much simpler, safer solution. That is the “Michigan left.” At least 10 such intersections on Route 31 going through Holland, Mich., use that scheme.

You can Mapquest Holland, Mich., and enlarge the satellite view of Route 31 intersections going from 24th Street through New Holland Street. Google “Michigan left” and see the general animated design on the Michigan Department of Transportation website.

For busier intersections, there are traffic lights about two blocks before the intersection and at the intersection that turn red simultaneously. Beyond the intersection is a left-turn lane that allows left turns when the light two blocks beyond the intersection (for traffic going the other direction) turns red and the left-turners get a green arrow.

The left-turning traffic swings to the right-hand turn lane and proceeds to the intersection from the opposite direction. The system is simple, less confusing to motorists, and less costly to implement.

I drive Route 31 through Holland on the way to my family summer home on White Lake north of Muskegon many times each summer. It is a busy highway, carrying all north-south traffic in the westernmost part of Michigan. There is no interruption of traffic flow for turns.

The main intersection light where a “Michigan left” is used permits full traffic flow the entire time that cross traffic is halted. I strongly encourage you to investigate using such intersections in McHenry County.